Directional luminaire



1961 J. ENDELSON 2,994,149

DIRECTIONAL LUMINAIRE Filed May 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR dhcK A/DELSON BY W 79%;?!

ATTOR EYS 2,994,149 DIRECTIONAL LUMINAIRE Jack Endelson, Atlantic Beach, N.Y., assignor to McPhilhen Manufacturing Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 14, 1959, Ser. No. 813,120 11 Claims. (Cl. 40--130) This invention relates in general to luminaires and in particular to a new and useful directional type of luminaire, including an elongated substantially rectangular housing adapted to be recessed into a wall and having directional panels removably secured within a ceiling or wall cover plate, the plate being hingedly connected to members which are telescopic within the housing.

The present invention is an improvement over luminaires of this type, particularly in the construction of the directional panels and the cover plate, the panels being secured within an elongated recess of the plate and fixed against relative movement with respect thereto by simple securing means. The mounting plate, in turn, is hingedly connected to bracket members which are supported by the lamp housing and which may be pushed upwardly within the housing in order to position the mounting plate flush against the ceiling in its closed position.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a wall or ceiling mount type of directional luminaire.

A further object of the invention is to provide a luminaire, including an elongated, rectangular lamp housing which is adapted to be recessed within a wall or ceiling, and a cover plate therefore, including a recess in which is inserted directional panels, the mounting plate being hingedly supported by bracket members which are telescopic into the lamp housing members.

A further object of the invention is to provide a directional luminaire which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a luminaire constructed in accordance with the invention indicating the mounting plate and directional panels supported on the telescopic bracket members and in an opened position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but indicating the mounting plates swung at substantially right angles to the lamp housing; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention as embodied therein includes an elongated, rectangular lamp housing generally designated 10, which is fitted within an outer rectangular wall or ceiling mounting shell or plaster frame, generally designated 12, and secured thereto as by a central bolt 14. The outer wall mounting shell 12 is provided with two laterally extending flange portions 16 and 18, having spaced around openings 28 to accommodate screws or similar devices or any other ceiling support for securing the outer shell 12 to a wall stud or plaster lathing. The complete assembly is recessed within a wall or ceiling and secured to a structural member, such as a stud, and then the wall is finished down flush to a lower flange 22 formed on the lamp housing 10.

The lamp housing is provided with socket members 24 and 26 at each end of the interior thereof to accom- Patent modate a lamp, such as a fluorescent bulb 28. Each of the socket members 24 and 26 are connected by means of wire connections which may be brought out through an opening 30 which is stamped out of the end of the lamp housing 10.

In accordance with the invention, the lamp housing is provided with a pair of spaced L-shaped bracket members 32' and 34, one side of each of which is secured to the inner wall of the housing, and the other sides thereof being provided with spaced elongated recesses 36 to accommodate downwardly extending leg portions 38 and 40 of U-shaped supporting members or brackets generally designated 42. The U-shaped supporting members 42 may be telescoped within the housing 18 and they are pivotally connected to spaced upstanding bosses 44 and 46 located at each end of a ceiling cover plate or closure housing generally designated 48.

The ceiling closure housing 48 is substantially rectangular and is provided with bolt openings at each end to accommodate bolts 50 which may be passed thereto and threaded into openings 52 located at each end of the housing 10 on flange portions thereof. The closure housing 48 is provided with a central elongated, substantially rectangular slot 54 in which is positioned a lettered panel or sign assembly generally designated 56.

The lettered panel or sign assembly 56 includes an opaque central plate or panel 58 sandwiched between two translucent plates or panels 60 and 62 having letters imprinted thereon which are illuminated by the lamp 28 located within the lamp housing 10. The lettered plate assembly 56 is held together by spaced lateral-1y extending threaded lugs or stud members 64 and 66 which extend through the plates and are secured on each side by speednuts to hold the assembly of plates tightly together.

In accordance with the invention, the slot 54 of the closure housing 48 is joined by laterally extending crossed recessed areas 68, including raised bearing portions 70 to support each of the stud members 64 and 66. In this position, the top of the plates 60 and 62 extend slightly above the top of a flanged area 72 defined alongside of the slot 54. The plate assembly 56 is secured in position and held against lateral swinging movement by an S- shaped securing clip 74 which is held in position by a pair of bolts 76, which are threaded onto boss portions 78 of the wall closure housing 48.

In FIG. 3, the closure housing 48 and the lettered panel assembly 56 are indicated in a closed position, at Which position light from the lamp 28 is directed downwardly along each of the panels 60 and 62 to illuminate the lettering thereon. In the event that it becomes necessary to change the bulb 28, or to change the lettered panel assembly 56, the bolts 50 are removed and the complete closure housing 48 and lettered panel assembly 56 are suspended on the brackets 42, which are telescoped outwardly from the lamp housing 12. The closure housing 48 may be swung about the brackets 42 to position the latter in the position indicated in FIG. 2. In this position, it is a simple matter to remove the bolts 76 and the S-shaped securing clip 74 and remove the lettered panel assembly 56, if desired.

Thus, the invention provides a directional luminaire which may be easily mounted within a ceiling and which includes a lamp housing 10 which may be completely removed from the ceiling mount 12 if desired. The illuminating source is easily accessible and the arrangement of mounting plate and lettered panel assembly permits easy access and interchangeability of directional signs if desired.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A directional luminaire comprising a lamp housing adapted to be recessed into a ceiling, a cover plate, hinge supporting members telescopically supported by said housing and hingedly connected to said cover plate, said cover plate including an elongated rectangular slot, a transparent lettered sign assembly positioned in said slot with a major portion extending below said cover plate, said sign assembly including a laterally extending portion which rests on a portion of said cover plate to support said sign assembly, clip means extending over the edge of said sign assembly within and secured to said cover plate to hold said panel in position, and means to secure said cover plate to said lamp housing to locate said sign assembly directly below said housing.

2. A directional luminaire according to claim 1 wherein said clip means includes an S-shaped clip.

3. In a luminaire including a lamp housing, the improvement comprising, a housing cover member for said lamp housing, said housing cover member including an elongated slot, a translucent panel extending through said slot, said panel including a laterally extending member wider than said slot located adjacent said cover and preventing withdrawal of said panel from said cover in one direction, and a clip connected to said cover and extending over the end of said panel and preventing withdrawal of said panel in the opposite direction.

4. In a luminaire according to claim 3, wherein said panel comprises a plurality of plates and said laterally extending member includes a stud extending through said plates.

5. In a luminaire according to claim 3, wherein said clip includes a substantially S-shaped clip member the central portion of which extends over the ends of said panel, and bolts extending through rounded portions at each side thereof and connected to said cover member.

6. A directional luminaire comprising a removable closure housing including an elongated slot in said closure housing, a transparent sign panel positioned in said slot with a major portion extending outwardly from said closure housing, said sign portion including a laterally extending portion which rests on a portion of said closure housing within the interior thereof to support said sign portion, and clip means extending over the edge of said sign panel within said housing means and connected to said housing means to hold said sign panel in position.

7. A directional luminaire comprising a closure housing having an elongated substantially rectangular slot defined on a bottom wall thereof, a translucent lettered panel positioned in said slot and including a major portion which extends therebelow, said panel having laterally extending portions which rest on the lower wall of said closure housing, clip means extending over the edge of said panel within said closure housing and connected to said closure housing to hold said panel in a fixed substantially vertical position, and means within said closure housing to illuminate said panel.

8. A directional luminaire according to claim 7, wherein said lower wall comprises a cover member hingedly connected to said housing, and wherein said illuminating means includes means for supporting and electrically connecting a lamp in said housing whereby light therefrom is directed downwardly through said panel.

9. A directional luminaire comprising a lamp closure housing having an elongated slot extending along the length thereof, a translucent lettered panel positioned in said slot with a major portion extending below said closure housing, said panel including laterally extending portions projecting beyond said slot and supported on said closure housing, and a clip extending over the top edge of said translucent lettered panel in said closure housing, means for securing said clip on each side of said lettered panel to said closure housing whereby to hold said panel in a fixed position.

10. A directional luminaire according to claim 9 wherein said lettered panel includes two translucent plates having letters cut on an inner face, said plate being separated by an opaque dividing member.

11. A directional luminaire according to claim 10 wherein said housing is provided with a channel recess to receive said bolts and support said panels below said housing, and wherein said clips are S-shaped members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,707,965 Scantleburry Apr. 2, 1929 2,627,684 Johnson Feb. 10, 1953 2,772,497 Nelson Dec. 4, 1956 2,792,245 Dasher et al. May 14, 1957 2,829,243 Stonehill Apr. 1, 1958 2,857,508 Klugman Oct. 21, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 195,833 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1923 643,105 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1950 

